Body warmer



Sept. 19, 1961 J. o. SPANGLER 3,000,516

BODY WARMER Filed Oct. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE-.1 T1 5.2

INVENTOR. J AM 55 O. SPANG LED.

AT TO RM EYS Sept. 19, 1961 J. o. SPANGILER BODY WARMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Oct. 10, 1958 iNvENToR; JAMES, O. .SpAueLaz ATTORNEYS 3,000,616BODY WARMER James 0. Spangler, Box 272, Heavener, Okla. Filed Oct. 10,1958, Ser. No. 766,477 2 Claims. (Cl. 257-12) This invention relatesgenerally to devices for Warming the human body, and more particularly,has reference to a device falling in this general category, designedespecially for warming the extremities of ones limbs.

The present application is concerned with an embodiment of the inventionso designed as to warm the feet and the hands using heat emanating fromanother portion of the body, with the warming action resulting fromperiodic collapse of one or more bladder-like members incorporated inthe device. Said periodic collapse, in accordance with the invention,produces circulation through a system closed to outside air, with arecycling action taking place in said system for the purpose of makingrepeated use of previously warmed air flowing Within said system.

While this illustrated and described embodiment is considered novel, theinvention, as will presently appear, is capable of certain variations ormodifications, and it is envisioned that the principles of the inventioncould be applied for the purpose of warming some selected portion orportions of the body, in substitution of or in addition to the warmingof the extremities. Still further, as will presently appear, it is alsoconsidered that the invention can make use, if desired, of supplementarywarming means, which will be additive to or in substitution of the useof body warmth.

In any event, it is the broad object of the present invention to providea device for warming selected portions of the body, through the use ofair warmed by a part of the body spaced from the portion that is to bewarmed.

Another object of importance is to effect the operation of the device byproducing a pumping action in a closed system of tubing extendingbetween the warmth producing and the warmed portions of the body.

Yet another object is to cause the pumping action to take placeresponsive to the normal walking or running movements of the body.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated, which, ifdesired, can be either partially or completely deactivated wheneverdesired by the user, with minimum difliculty and with a minimum loss oftime.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated which willnot interfere, except perhaps to a relatively inconsequential degreeconsidering the benefits to be obtained from the use of the device, withthe normal activities of the user.

A further object of importance is to provide a body warming devicewhich, in a preferred embodiment, will effect warming of the feet, andwill permit auxiliary tubing that extends to the hands, to be connectedin the flow path of the recycled air, at the option of the user.

Still another object is to so form the device that it can be initiallycharged with a supply of air by the user, in a short time.

A further object of importance is to provide a body warming device ofthe character stated which will be completely concealed when in use,will be adapted for incorporation in specially prepared garments, orwill alternatively be adapted to be worn underneath ones ordinarywearing apparel.

A further object of importance is to so form the device as to permit itto be manufactured in a single size, or perhaps in no more than a veryfew sizes, thus to lower the cost of manufacture.

2, eat

.like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a body warming device according to thepresent invention, an individual wearing the same being shown in dottedlines;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, somewhat diagrammatic view of the device perse, portions being broken away;

FIGURE 2a is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2, with a main valvein a second position so as to connect the auxiliary tubing into the mainsystem for warming the hand;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on line 3-3 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a still further enlarged, detail sectional viewsubstantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the footWarming members of the device, said members being shown in the relativepositions assumed thereby during normal walking movements of the user;and

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, on ascale enlarged above that of FIG- URE 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body warming device comprisingthe present invention has been generally designated 10 in the severalfigures of the drawings. As will be noted from FIGURE 1, the devicecomprises, essentially, a system of tubes, extending to selectedportions of the body that are to be warmed, said tubes being operativelyrelated in combination with a novelly arranged assemblage of valvedfittings, a main air container or reservoir, and bladder-like warmingelements located in contact with or in close proximity to the parts ofthe body that are to be warmed.

The warming device 10 includes a comparatively large, generally fiatmain container or reservoir 12, so designed as to have one face 13thereof in direct contact with a selected area of the human body b. Inthe present instance, the container 12 overlies and is in contact withthe abdomen. However, it will be understood that this is merely oneexampleof a container that can be used to advantage. Obviously, thecontainer could be larger than that shown. Then again, the containercould overlie not only the abdomen, but also the chest of the wearer,thus covering a substantially greater area of the body than thecontainer illustrated by way of example.

Still, further, the container could be disposed in contact with theback, could extend completely about the waist, or could be otherwiselocated.

It is at this time thought mainly essential that the container bedesigned to closely hub the portion of the body which it overlies, whilebeing of a fiexibly walled material, so as to flex during movements ofthe body b, to such extent as is necessary not to unduly impede saidmovements. Then too, the material of the container, where it is incontact with the body should be such as to permit rapid heat exchangebetween the body and the container interior. The outer wall 15 of thecontainer could undoubtedly be of the same material, since there wouldbe little heat lost through said outer Wall. Alternatively, the outerwall might be of a material different from that used for the inner wall13, and could have heat-insulative qualities to minimize heat losstherethrough. These are considered details which are thoughtsufiiciently obvious to one skilled in the art as not to require specialillustration herein.

It is preferred, further, to provide an opening in the outer wall 15,surrounded by a threaded neck 14, said opening being normally closed bya complementarily 3 threaded plug 16, as shown in FIGURE 3. By removalof the plug 16, the entire device can be deactivated. A further purposeis served by the normally plugged opening, in that one can supplementthe warming action produced by heat transfer from the body to thecontainer interior, by inserting a pre-warmed length of material throughthe opening to be confined in the container in a I manner to warm airflowing about the inserted object. Said object has not been shown, butcould be a flexible, hollow member containing a substance that can bewarmed in advance. Such products are already known, and are adapted tobe either warmed or coded, to maintain in a correspondingly warmed orrefrigerated state articles in close proximity thereto.

In any event, in the illustrated example, the device is adapted tooperate, utilizing body heat only in a manner to warm selected portionsof the body, as for example the hands and feet.

The container 12 can be supported against the body b in any of variousways. By way of example, there is shown a waist-band or belt 13, havingsuspension hooks 26 detachably connectable to apertured ears 21 providedupon the upper edge of the container. Any of various other means mightwell be employed for the purpose of holding the container against thebody.

It is desirable that means be provided for charging the container with asupply of air, and in the illustrated example (see FIGURE 2) I utilize afitting 22 communieating with the container interior, together with atube 24 connected to said fitting at one end and having a fitting 26 atits other end in which is provided a checkv valve 28. The valve 23permits flow only toward the container 12.

Thus, the tube 24 may normally be left coiled in an inoperative positionas in FIGURE 1. Whenever it is desired to charge the container with asupply of air that is thereafter to be recycled within the device, oneinserts the fitting 26 in his mouth, and blows therethrough to providethe container with the charge of air. It may be noted that the air blowninto the container in this manner will be pre-warmed, to some extentsince it is emanating from the mouth.

At this point, it is worthy of note that although the walls of thecontainer 12 are flexible, it is important that they not be expandable,that is, at all times there should be no distension of the containerwalls, by reason of the fact that even temporary enlargement of thecubic area of the container interior is to be avoided. Obviously, any ofvarious plastic or rubber materials will answer the purpose well.

Referring to FIGURE 2, extending downwardly from the lower edge of thecontainer, in transversely spaced relation, are identical but oppositemain inlet fittings 30. In spaced relation to the fitting 30, andpreferably at or near the top edge portion of the container, there areidentical but opposite outlet fittings 32 each of which has a checkvalve 33 opening only in a direction to permit flow out of the containerthrough fittings 32.

Connected to the fittings 32 are main air supply tubes 34, extendingdownwardly along the legs of the user to foot warming members generallydesignated 36.

The members 36 can be of the form shown, wherein they are adapted to beworn within conventional shoes. Alternatively, they can be in the formof shoes or boots, as long as they have characteristics which are to bedescribed in detail immediately hereinafter.

The members 36 shown by way of example are so designed as to bedouble-walled throughout, with the walls being of flexible, though notexpandable material. Thus, the chamber 40 defined between the walls ofthe member 36 will not expand in cubic area, during operation of thedevice, beyond its maximum expansion shown for the left hand member 36in FIGURE 5.

The foot Warming members 36, thus, include doublewalled sole-portions38, defining between them a cham-.

ber for warmed air, extending over substantially the full area of thebottom of the wearers foot. The sole portion 38 is adapted to overliethe sole of a shoe S of conventional construction (see FIGURE 5) in theillustrated example. Sole portion 38, at its front end, is integral witha toe portion 42, which is also of doublewalled construction and whichoverlies the sides and top of the wearers foot, at the toe of the foot,fitting snugly within the toe portion of the shoe. The chamber 40extends Within the sides and top of the toe portion 42, so as to warmthe enclosed, toe part of the wearers foot.

The sole portion 38, at its rear end, is integral with a double-Walledheel portion 44, overlying the sides and back of the wearers heel.Again, the construction is such as to provide communication between thehollow sole portion 38 and the sides and back of the heel portion 44.

The arrangement shown is merely one example of a foot warming member.This term, it should be noted, is used broadly herein, and could applyto a complete shoe or boot, in an arrangement such that the member 36eliminates the need for outer foot wear such as a shoe as shown inFIGURE 5. Such shoe or boot, as will be understood, would be ofdouble-walled construction over either its entire area or at least overa substantial portion of said area.

The arrangement illustrated, of course, is one that would be usable withany kind of outer footwear, so long as said footwear is of a size suchas to permit one to insert the foot-enclosing member 36 withoutdiscomfort to normal walking, running, or other physical activity. Inthe arrangement shown, the size of the foot member 36 would be such asto permit its insertion within a shoe falling inside a predeterminedrange of diflerent sizes of shoe length and width.

For the purposes of the present application, it is mainly important tonote that the construction of the foot warming member 36 is such as tocause the same to underlie the foot, in contact with the portions to bewarmed, with the sole portion 38 being designed to collapse under theweight of the wearers body during the taking of a step, as shown at theright in FIGURE 5. Further, the material of at least the top wall of thesole portion 38, and the inside walls of the toe and heel portions 42,44, respectively, should have a high rate of thermal conductivity orheat exchange. The same material can be used for the foot members 36 asfor the container 12.

Secured to opposite sides of the heel portion 44 of each member 36 arerelatively short connecting tubes 46, communicating with the chamber 40.One of these is detachably connectable to the lower end of the adjacenttube 34. The other is similarly connectable to a main return tube 48extending back to the container 12.

The detachable connection permits the members 36 to be completelyseparated from the remaining components of the device, to deactivate thedevice, in the event one of the other deactivating means capable ofbeing used is not in position to be conveniently employed.

Further, the arrangement permits the tubes 34, 48 to be disconnectedfrom the adjacent, associated member 36, after which the connectingtubes 46 of said member 36 can be temporarily plugged. The result isthat there is provided a foot receiving member, which as indicated abovecould be a complete shoe or boot, having an air chamber hermeticallysealed for the moment against the admission of outside air. The sealedair chamber, of course, has thus served two purposes, one of these beingthe provision of an air cushion making walking or running morecomfortable, and the other being the provision of insulation surroundingthe foot and taking the form of a dead air space, well known as anexcellent heat insulator.

Alternatively, lines 34, 48 might remain connected to the member 36,while being temporarily closed off through the provision of hose ortubing clamps, not shown, of conventional design. It is known to providedevices onlengths of rubber tubing, swiftly operable to positionsclosing the tubing temporarily against the flow of air or liquidstherethrough.

Referring to FIGURE 4, each fitting 30 is of a threeway or T type. Thus,each fitting 30 may be considered as including an outlet 50 comprisingthe means connecting return line 48 in communication with reservoir 12.Each fitting 30 further includes an inlet 52, connected directly to theline 48, and a laterally projecting auxiliary outlet 54.

The outlet 50 of the fitting is check valved as at 56, with the checkvalve permitting flow only from the fitting into the container orreservoir 12.

Each fitting includes a valve core 58, providing in co operation withthe fitting a three-way valve 59. Valve core 58 can be adjusted to theposition shown in FIGURE 2, connecting line 48 directly with theinterior of container 12 while closing off communication betweenauxiliary outlet 54 and line 48.

Alternatively, core 58 can be moved to the position shown in FIGURE 2a.In this position, the core connects line 48 in communication withauxiliary outlet 54, while preventing communication between the line 48and the container 12.

In still another position, not shown, the core 58 might be adjusted 180degrees from the position thereof shown in FIGURE 2a. This would connectoutlet 50 in communication with outlet 54 while still closing off line48. In such an arrangement, as will presently appear, the portion of thewarming system that extends to the feet would be deactivated, while theportion extending to the hands would remain operative.

Connected to each of the auxiliary outlets 54 is an auxiliary supplyline or tube 60, extending to and communicating with a flattened,hollow, flexibly walled hand warming element 62. Element 62 may beinserted directly in ones glove, in contact with the palm of the hand.In this event, the element would be shaped, in a typical embodiment, inthe manner shown in FIGURE 2, with a generally semicircular outerconfiguration, having a straight edge formed with a plurality ofrecesses 64 adapted to receive the proximal ends of the fingers.

Alternatively, the elements 62 could comprise complete gloves,dispensing with the need for gloves of conventional types. In thisevent, the complete gloves would be double-walled, in the same manner asthe elements 36, and might have detachable connections to the tubesextending thereto along the arm of the wearers body b. Such gloves,thus, could be detached from their associated tubes, and sealed toprovide insulation of the dead air type surrounding the hand.

Again, this is thought sufficiently obvious as not to require specialillustration herein.

Extending from each element or hand warming member 62 is a return line66. Return lines 66 may be appropriately termed auxiliary return tubes,and extend to and are connected with auxiliary inlet fittings 68provided upon the container or reservoir 12. Fittings 68 have checkvalves 70, that permit flow only from tubes 66 into the container.

To maintain the tubes 60, 66 in proper position upon the shoulders, saidtubes may be clipped together lightly by retaining sleeves or clips 72(FIGURE 1).

In use, the device may be worn under conventional garments.Alternatively, the device might be incorporated in a flying suit,military battle dress, etc. In either event, the arrangement of thedevice would be substantially as shown in FIGURE 1. Assuming that thedevice is to be placed in use, one first charges the container 12 withair, by blowing through the fitting 26. Thereafter, and on the furtherassumption that only the feet are to be warmed, one would adjust thevalve cores 58 to the position shown in FIGURE 2.

Thereafter, heat is transferred from body b to the air within thereservoir 12, through the wall 13, said wall having as Previously notedherein a lush rate Qt thermal conductivity. In normal Walking, one footwould have the weight of the body imposed thereon, while the other footwould not. In other words, the weight of the body is transferred fromone foot to the other constantly during normal Walking or runningactivities as shown in FIGURE 5.

When the weight of the body is imposed upon a member 36, the soleportion 38 thereof is collapsed as shown at the right in FIGURE 5. Thiscauses air within said member 36 to be expelled through return line 48,the air flowing into the container 12 as shown by the arrows in FIGURE2.

This displaces air already within the container 12, the displaced airhaving been warmed in the manner previouslyfdescribed. The only outletsfrom the container for the displaced air are the outlets 32. Air flowingout of the container 12 through the outlet fittings 32, of course,cannot return to the container due to the check valve 33.

Since the weight of the body is on one foot, there is no room within thechamber 40 of the member 36 receiving said foot, for the displaced air.In other words, when one has his weight upon the right foot, warmed airflows out of the container 12 only through the line 34 extending to theleft foot. Subsequently, when the weight is placed on the left foot,warm air is displaced from the container 12 only through the tube 34extending to the right foot.

In this way, responsive to normal walking or running activities, thereis a continuous recycling of warmed air through a closed system, in amanner to circulate air through each member 36, on the taking of eachstep.

If one were standing still rather than walking or running, circulationcan still be provided, by marking time, or merely by transferring thebody weight from one foot to the other at closely spaced intervals. Evenan up and down wiggling motion of the foot can produce operation of thedevice, it is believed.

Assuming that one were to desire to include in the cycle the portions ofthe system extending to the hands, the valve cores 58 would be adjustedto the position shown in FIGURE 2a. It will now be observed that duringthe normal walking or running activities, air flowing back toward thecontainer 12 through lines 48 is caused to flow not into the container12, but rather, into the lines 60 extending to the member 62. Said air,after circulation through the members 62, returns to the container 12through the auxiliary return line 66.

It will be apparent that the device makes use, in a novel manner, ofheat normally thrown off by the body [2, putting such heat to good usein warming other parts of the body that would nomally tend to becomecold due to being extremities, or due to being unduly exposed to theweather. 'One might, for example, use the device to warm the ears,through the provision of members overlying the ears, thus preventingfrostbite of these portions of the body.

The body warmer illustrated and described can thus comprise a valuableaccessory, as for example to the military during long campaigns in coldclimates or under wintry conditions. Many troops are rendered wholly orpartially inactive, due to frostbite, frozen hands or feet, or otherconditions resulting from severe cold.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carryout said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany change in construction that may be permitted Within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1, A body warmer comprising a resilient and compress- '2 ible torsoengaging heat transfer air reservoir having upper and lower edges andopposed end edges, valved air input means on the reservoir at said upperedge, air return check valves on said reservoir at said upper edge andlocated at opposite sides of said input means, air outlet check valveson said reservoir at said ends, and two laterally spaced combinationvalves on said reservoir at said lower edge, two hollow hand warmerelements, return tubes connected to and extending between said elements,and said air return check valves, outgoing tubes connected to andextending between said combination valves and the hand warmer elements,air transfer tubes extending between and connected at one end to saidair outlet check valves, and hollow compressible foot warmer elements towhich the other ends of the transfer tubes are connected, and returnflow tubes connected at one end to said foot warmer elements and to saidcombination valves, said combination valves having check valvesproviding one-way flow of air into said reservoir and having portsseverally communicating with said air transfer tubes and said returnflow tubes, and a manual valve element for selectively closing one ofsaid ports at a time.

2. A body warmer comprising a resilient and compressible torso engagingheat transfer air reservoir having upper and lower edges and opposed endedges, valved air input means on the reservoir at said upper edge, airreturn check valves on said reservoir at said upper edge and located atopposite sides of said input means, air outlet check valves on saidreservoir at said ends, and

two laterally spaced combination valves on said reservoir at said loweredge, two hollow hand warmer elements, return tubes connected to andextending between said elements, and said air return check valves,outgoing tubes connected to and extending between said combinationvalves and the hand warmer elements, air transfer tubes extendingbetween and connected at one end to said air outlet check valves, andhollow compressible foot warmer elements to which the other ends of thetransfer tubes are connected, and return flow tubes connected at one endto said foot warmer elements and to said combination valves, saidcombination valves having check valves providing one-way flow of airinto said reservoir and having ports severally communicating with saidair transfer tubes and said return flow tubes, and a manual valveelement for selectively closing one of said ports at a time, said footwarmer elements comprising elongated bodies longer than a foot, saidbodies having sole engaging portions and walls upstanding from said soleengaging portions, including side portions to engage opposite sides of afoot, and heel and toe portions for engaging over the heel and toes of afoot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS912,527 Batter Feb. 16, 1909 2,052,857 Widdis Sept. 1, 1936 2,429,234Miller Oct. 21, 1947

